State Department of Education Refuses to Listen to Homeschoolers on Proposed EFA Restrictions

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On Friday, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that the State Department of Education plans to move forward with proposed rules prohibiting homeschoolers from using Educational Freedom Account (EFA) funding to pay for team sports under the LEARNS Act.

The decision comes despite public comments from more than 200 citizens who oppose the rules. Family Council and its homeschool division, the Education Alliance, were among those who submitted public comments against the proposed rules in December.

Lawmakers created the EFA program under the LEARNS Act in 2023, making it possible for Arkansas students to use public funds to pay for an education at a public or private school or at home. Thousands of students have taken advantage of school choice in Arkansas under this program.

Last year the Arkansas Legislature approved Act 920 by Sen. Breanne Davis (R — Russellville) and Rep. Keith Brooks (R — Little Rock) reducing EFA vendor fees and limiting EFA spending on extracurricular activities to 25%. That means a student who participates in the LEARNS Act cannot spend more than one-fourth of his or her EFA money on extracurricular activities.

Family Council supported Act 920 because homeschoolers participating in the EFA program have seen the price of extracurricular activities go up. Cutting vendor fees and capping certain costs will encourage providers to keep their prices down.

However, the Department of Education’s proposed rules go beyond what Act 920 allows. The proposed EFA rules completely prohibit any EFA spending on registration fees, equipment costs, dues, and any costs associated with club or team sports.

Act 920 simply caps spending in these areas at 25% of a student’s total EFA funding, but the Department of Education wants to prohibit spending on team and club sports altogether.

Besides failing to track with Act 920, many homeschoolers have also expressed concerns that completely prohibiting EFA spending on team sports is unfair because public schools fund team sports with state money.

If the Department of Education opts to move forward with these rules, the legislators on the Arkansas Legislative Council’s Administrative Rules and Regulations Subcommittee will have to approve them in February.

Family Council and the Education Alliance are urging all Arkansans to ask their lawmakers not to approve the Department of Education’s proposed Rules Governing the Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Family Council Asks State Board of Education to Rethink EFA Restrictions on Team Sports

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On Monday, Family Council and its homeschool division, the Education Alliance, submitted public comments asking the Arkansas Department of Education to rethink a set of proposed rules prohibiting Educational Freedom Account (EFA) money from being used for team sports under the LEARNS Act.

The proposed rules say that registration fees, equipment, dues, and any costs associated with club and team sports cannot be paid for with EFA funding.

Homeschooling has surged in Arkansas and across the nation. Educational Freedom Account funding makes it possible for Arkansas students to use public dollars to pay for educational services at public or private schools or at home. State spending on EFAs has topped $120.5 million so far this year, and thousands of students have taken advantage of school choice in Arkansas as a result.

Many homeschoolers have expressed concerns that completely prohibiting EFA spending on team sports is unfair, because public schools fund team sports with state money. There is also concern that the new rules go beyond boundaries set in the LEARNS Act.

Earlier this year, lawmakers passed Act 920 of 2025 which limits EFA spending on sports and other extracurricular activities to 25% of a student’s annual EFA funding. That means a student who participates in the LEARNS Act cannot spend more than one-fourth of his or her EFA money on extracurricular activities. However, the new education rules would go beyond state law by prohibiting EFA money from being spent on team sports altogether.

Public comments on the proposed EFA rules are due by Tuesday, December 16. Home schoolers can email their comments to ADE.RulesComments@ade.arkansas.gov.

You can read Family Council’s comments on the proposed rules here.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Home School Numbers Hit Record Highs Across America

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Home schooling continues to surge across the United States. New data shows growth rates nearly triple what they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Johns Hopkins University research, home school enrollment grew 5.4% in the 2024-2025 school year—compared to just 2% growth before COVID-19. States like South Carolina saw 21.5% growth, while New Hampshire and Vermont rebounded with double-digit increases after temporary declines.

Homeschooling in Arkansas has surged since 2020. In 2019 there were a little less than 22,000 homeschoolers in Arkansas. In early 2020, those numbers climbed to 22,249. During the 2020-2021 school year, home schooling spiked to 30,267 students. By 2024, homeschooling surged again, to 32,767 students.

Arkansas has become a leader in educational freedom. The 2023 LEARNS Act lets public dollars follow students, giving families real opportunities to choose the best education for their children — whether that’s at a public school private school, or home school.

Family Council has always believed families deserve options when it comes to education. That’s one reason we support home schooling.

Research shows parental involvement generally is tied to better educational outcomes for children. That’s true no matter how families choose to educate their children — but home schooling is particularly good for many families, because it lets them choose the education that’s best for them.

Home schooling offers more than an education. It gives parents the freedom to pass their values and convictions to their children. Families can customize curriculum, set their own schedules, and ensure their children receive one-on-one attention that large public school classrooms cannot always provide.

It’s good to see families taking advantage of everything homeschooling has to offer.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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